Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
She doesn’t know how to do anything. She’s constantly talking about guys that treat her like shit. Worst of all, she’s fine with it, and if you even try to chime in and offer that she should expect more out of a guy who says he likes her, she bites your head off.
If a guy treated Paige like they do Sara, I’d throttle them with my bare hands.
Moss: Yeah, sure. She can come. No problem.
Me: I might have something going on. I’ll let you know later.
Jess:
Maddox:
Moss:
Paige: What might be going on?
Me: I’m keeping my options open.
Moss: Okay. Be here at seven, Banksy.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” I mutter, clicking the button on the side of the phone.
I stare at my computer screen for a long time, but my mind is elsewhere. Namely, Sara.
I can’t help but wonder what happens to a woman like her. Does she ever find a guy who’s not a jerk? Does she just drift around her whole life? It wouldn’t be a bad life, but something in my gut tells me that might not be all she’s looking for.
If I ever settle down, and that’s a big if, I want to have the relationships that my parents have with one another. I want to take care of my girl like my dad does Mom. I want a house full of laughter and food and the door opening and closing all the time with people.
I want the life I had growing up. To get that, it would take a fun, lighthearted, family-centric woman. Someone like Mom. Or like Brooke, Ashley, or Pippa.
Not Sara.
Why am I even thinking about this? We hate each other. Sort of. I think.
I stare at my phone for a long moment and then pick it up again.
Me: See you then.
I click off as fast as I can, before the comments roll in.
“That’s funny. I never have a problem getting things to go up.”
I shake my head and turn back to my computer.
5
Sara
“Hello,” I say, poking my head through the front door of Moss and Brooke’s house. Their text said to come on in and that they would be in the kitchen or the lanai. Despite my new friendship with Brooke, thanks to Ashley, it’s still a new friendship.
I’m not entirely comfortable just waltzing into their private space unannounced.
“We’re in the kitchen,” Brooke says, her voice ringing through the foyer.
I step inside and shut the door behind me. Wow.
Their house is so well put together and gorgeous. It has very strong details and lots of metals and blacks. But the spattering of pinks and yellows softens it just enough to make it clear that a woman lives here too.
“Hey,” I say, smiling at the two of them. “Thanks for inviting me over.”
Moss leans against the counter and nods. Man, he’s handsome. “No problem. We’re glad you could come.”
“I made brownies.” I hold a tray for them to see. “I’m not saying these are the best things you’ll ever eat in your life, but I did follow the instructions and they smell great.”
Brooke laughs and takes the dessert from me. “Oh, they do smell great. And they look great too.”
“Thanks. Speaking of smelling great—your house smells amazing.”
“It’s the pizza dough,” Brooke says. “I love that smell too. It’s so comforting.”
I slide my hands down my sides, smoothing out the fabric of my blue sundress. My clothing options are limited, and this felt like the most casual dinner with friends outfit that I had on hand—even if I did have to wear a bikini underneath.
“You look very pretty,” Brooke says. “I love that dress.”
“Fifteen dollars at Brinkmann’s. They also have it in a mint green color that I love, but it looked weird against my skin.”
“Green can be hard to wear,” Brooke says, adding balls of dough to small round pans. “Unless you’re Moss. I love green on him.”
Moss smirks and shrugs. “I’m going to go get the pizza oven warmed up.”
Brooke smiles at him with little hearts in her eyes. So cute.
“Want me to help you?” I ask Brooke.
“Sure. I’m getting the dough ready so when Banks gets here, we can all make our own pizzas.”
I turn toward the sink so she can’t see the heat in my face.
I haven’t been able to forget the image of Banks with my vibrator in his hand. The whole situation feels surreal, and I half wonder if I didn’t imagine it. That whole day was a shit show. Maybe I was stress-dreaming.
“How have you been?” Brooke asks. “Ashley said you were staying with them until Wednesday.”
“Yeah.” I turn on the tap and squirt a shot of soap in my hands. “Maddox helped me find a rental. Those things are impossible to find in Kismet Beach right now. It’s awful.”
“I know. Pippa—do you know Jess’s girlfriend?”